Compare towns
Worcester vs Berlin vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Worcester | Berlin | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,880Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.